Air bag module emergency venting system

An air bag system that comprises:

• (a) an air bag cushion;
• (b) an inflator assembly attached to said air bag cushion, said inflator assembly being configured to rapidly provide said air bag cushion an inflation fluid;
• (c) a cover movably attached to said inflator assembly, said cover having a first position and a second position in which said cover is displaced in relation to said inflator assembly by the force of said inflation fluid, said inflator assembly extending toward said cover and having a hole formed therethrough said covering having an emergency relief vent formed therethrough, said emergency relief vent and said hole in said inflator being aligned when said cover is in said first position so as to allow said inflation fluid to escape said inflator assembly upon an out-of-position occupant being encountered, thereby reducing the force with which said air bag cushion breaks through said cover.

An emergency venting assembly for an air bag safety system, said emergency venting system comprising:

• (a) an inflator assembly having a hole formed therethrough;
• and
• (b) a cover movably attached to said inflator assembly, said cover having a emergency relief vent formed therein, said cover further having a first position and a second position such that when said cover is in said first position said emergency relief vent is substantially aligned with said hole in said inflator assembly so as to allow said inflation fluid to exit the air bag safety system and when said cover moves to said second position said cover has been laterally displaced in relation to said inflator assembly and said emergency relief vents and said hole in said inflator assembly are no longer aligned forcing the inflation fluid into the air bag, said cover being configured such that said displacement of said cover from said first position to said second position reduces the force with which said air bag cushion breaks through said cover.

An emergency venting assembly as recited in claim 23, wherein said housing includes a side wall assembly configured to cooperate with said cover.

An emergency venting assembly for an air bag safety system, said emergency venting system comprising:

• (a) an inflator assembly comprising a housing and an inflator, said housing having a hole formed therethrough;
• and
• (b) a cover movably attached to said inflator assembly, said cover having a side wall extending toward said housing, said side wall having an emergency relief vent formed therein, said cover further having a first position and a second position such that when said cover is in said first position said emergency relief vent is substantially aligned with said hole in said housing so as to allow said inflation fluid to exit said inflator assembly and when said cover moves to said second position said cover has been laterally displaced in relation to said inflator assembly such that said emergency relief vents in said cover and said hole in said housing are no longer aligned so as to force said inflation fluid into the air bag, said cover being configured such that said displacement of said cover from said first position to said second position reduces the force with which said air bag cushion breaks through said cover.

An emergency venting assembly as recited in claim 29, wherein said housing includes a side wall assembly configured to cooperate with said cover, said side wall assembly extending toward said cover and having said hole formed therein.